The singer, actor and The Voice judge on singing into hairbrushes, popping bubblegum and her enduring love for Aretha Franklin

Born in Chicago, Jennifer Hudson, 36, rose to fame in 2004 when she was a contestant on American Idol. She went on to appear in the 2006 film Dreamgirls, winning an Oscar for her performance. In 2008, she had a hit with the single Spotlight, and in 2009 won a Grammy for her debut album. She made her Broadway debut – and won a second Grammy – in The Color Purple in 2015. Her latest single is Burden Down and she is a coach on The Voice UK, which starts on ITV this month. She has a son and lives in Chicago.

When were you happiest?Around the holidays, because I get to spend them with family and friends.